When was the last time you heard public leaders such as members of parliament, cabinet ministers or the state president stand up in parliament to exalt business as a force for good? It does not happen; and if it does it would be such a rarity despite the rhetoric about the government looking up to business (or the private sector) as the engine of growth. The reality on the ground however is that respect for business not only still leaves a lot to be desired but is untenable going forward.
Many in government seem to have little appreciation of the importance of business in our economic and cultural lives and the enormous responsibilities that businessmen have to bear. It does not matter that business are in it for profit. The one aspect that many in government overlook is that the route to profitability is not paved with gold. It is hard and goes through paying employees and thereby helping them lead dignified lives. After all, nothing gives a man more dignity than a job. As an example, a job is superior to receiving a free house and being paraded in front of television cameras at a housing handing over ceremony.
Business is in the business of hatching an idea, planning and securing funding. It then ensures that the venture is run profitably. In between, business also ensures that it does not default on its financial obligations with banks and other creditors. To remain profitable, it has no option but to produce goods and services which other people are willing and able to buy. At all times, it is important to remember that business does not force such goods and services on anyone. All business does is to ensure that their goods and services are bought voluntarily.
Even in Botswana despite its outsized public sector, business employs a lot of people. By virtue of that employment, it allows many to fend for themselves and families without the need whatsoever for government handouts.
Business also assumes the risks of business which frequently involves foreclosure. Of course suppliers and banks assume risks too through their dealings with business. Government on the other hand assumes no risk at all and just waits to confiscate part of the profits through taxation.
So business is not in the business of confiscating your money and this is why the notion of giving back to the community is an absurd misnomer. If business is expected to return your money in what was a voluntary exchange for goods or services then it must in the same vein, get back the goods it sold.
So given the good that business does, there is no need for the government and its acolytes to treat the former with suspicion. The habit of presuming business guilty of ill-treating employees or cheating the taxman until they prove themselves innocent does not therefore accord with the ambition of facilitating the private sector to be the engine of economic growth , prosperity and jobs. Look at how for example the very engine of business namely, profit is demonised and vilified. If you think I’m exaggerating, then when have you ever heard a government leader in parliament congratulate any company in Botswana for registering record profits? They would rather play the nationalist card and fret that the good profits indicate that the said company is ripping off Batswana!
COVID also unwittingly reveals the apathy that the government harbours towards business. Listen to the government people every time they pay homage to the front line workers who fight the pandemic. It’s always the health workers, polices and BDF that get all the acclaim. There is never any mention of truckers who haul in essential food and medical supplies or those business people who avail their houses or offices for free use by the ministry of health. That on its own is revealing.
